LEXUS ADDS STYLE, FEATURES AND SAFETY TO CT 200h

Lexus has freshened its exclusively hybrid CT 200h compact hatch with sportier styling, an enhanced cabin and new features including the expansion of advanced safety features across the range.

The Lexus Safety System+ - using a camera and a radar to help prevent or mitigate accidents - features a pre-collision system that is now able to detect pedestrians on the road ahead, not just vehicles.

This suite of technologies also incorporates autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning with steering assist, active cruise control and automatic high beam1.

All three grades - Luxury, F Sport and Sports Luxury - are now equipped with a 10.3-inch display screen compared with the previous 7-inch screen while the two upper grades gain Bi-LED headlights.

The larger screen provides access to satellite navigation and Enform2 connected mobility which are now standard on all models. It is also the interface to the audio system and displays the image from the reversing camera.

Lexus chief executive Peter McGregor said the latest updates build on the established strengths of the CT 200h and add to its reputation for efficiency, reliability and driver appeal.

"The new designs are more emotional and sporty, achieving significantly greater impact with a stronger road presence and a more modern and athletic appearance," Mr McGregor said.

"Together with the higher levels of standard equipment, the updates will enhance the reputation of the CT 200h as the ideal premium hybrid compact car for customers who enjoy spirited driving while caring about the environment."

Luxury grade benefits from the highest level of additional safety and convenience features, gaining satellite navigation with SUNA3 live traffic updates and Enform2, the 10.3-inch display screen and a sway warning function.

It has newly designed 16-inch alloy wheels, a 4.2-inch multi-information display screen in the instrument cluster, an electro-chromatic rear-view mirror, moving guidelines on the reversing camera image and a GPS function for the analogue clock, automatically adjusting to different time zones.

All these added features are included for a recommended retail price of $40,9004 - an increase of just $2,150. An optional enhancement pack combines a leather-accented interior, 17-inch alloys, LED fog lamps, DAB+ digital radio5 and heated front seats for $4,500. A moonroof is $2,500.

F Sport, in addition to the Lexus Safety System+ technologies, is now equipped with auto-levelling Bi-LED headlamps with washers, LED fog lamps and the 10.3-inch display screen.

The added features attract a price increase of just $1,960 to $50,400. A moonroof is $2,500 while the moonroof, a 13-speaker Mark Levinson premium sound system and a smart key card are available at $4,500.

Sports Luxury was already extensively equipped with features including leather-accented trim, heated and power-adjustable driver and front-passenger seats, Mark Levinson sound, moonroof and most of the advanced safety technologies.

It gains the pedestrian detection function for the pre-collision system, lane-departure warning with steering assist, Bi-LED headlamps and the larger display screen. Its price is $56,900 - an increase of just $810.

Design updates on Luxury and Sports Luxury grades begin with a sophisticated new mesh-pattern grille in place of horizontal bars. Lexus has also removed the integrated bumper division between the upper and lower grille sections.

At the rear, new L-shaped taillights create a wider, sportier look. They are all-LED, with the turn indicators moved to the lower edge to strengthen the overall L-motif.

The upper and lower lines of the light-emitting section of the taillights thicken as they curve outwards, accentuating width and giving the rear of the car a stronger, more stable presence.

A new tailgate garnish has been added, enveloping the Lexus emblem between the rear glass and the taillights.

For Luxury and Sports Luxury grades, the lower part of the rear bumper has been reshaped for a more aggressive appearance and gains a new metallic silver-and-black highlight.

F Sport now has an even greater emphasis on black highlights to reinforce its status as the sports-focused variant. It features an exclusive new black mesh pattern for the spindle grille, dark chrome spindle garnish and even black mirror caps. There is an exclusive F Sport lower rear bumper and the rear reflector bezel is larger and features the same lattice pattern as the front grille.

Spicing up the CT 200h's profile, the Luxury grade's 16-inch wheels feature a new design with a black centre cap while the 17-inch F Sport wheel is freshened with a dark metallic finish.

Inside, the CT's cabin is distinguished by its use of high-quality materials, rich surface textures and an attractive "form-follows-function" styling philosophy.

Luxury grade has fabric trim - in Black or the newly developed Chateau. The enhancement packs and Sport Luxury models are offered with two new leather-accented trims - a Chateau two-tone interior or Ochre, in addition to Black.

F Sport has two new interior trims with leather accents - F Sport White and F Sport Flare Red, both of which feature contrasting black trim on the front seats. Buyers can also choose an all-black interior.

The Lexus CT 200h driveline consists of a 1.8-litre petrol engine, a transaxle damper, a compound set of planetary gears and two electric motors/generators, with a counter gear to drive the differential.

It can operate at speeds of up to 45km/h on electric power only and charges the hybrid battery while on the move. The system allows for regenerative braking, which significantly improves fuel economy and reduces emissions.

The Lexus CT 200h will consume just 4.1 litres of fuel for every 100km and emit 95 grams of CO2 per kilometre6.

Globally, the CT 200h has attracted more than 300,000 customers since going on sale in 2011. The total includes almost 7,000 cars locally, making it the best-selling Lexus hybrid in Australia.

DISCLAIMERS
1 Pre-Collision Safety System, Active Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning, Vehicle Sway Warning and Automatic High Beam are driver assist technologies and should not be used as a substitute for safe driving practices. Driver should continue to monitor the road.2 Enform services rely on data from the driver's compatible mobile phone and information provided by third parties. Availability is dependent on a number of factors, including the availability of third party information, mobile service, sufficient mobile data allowance and GPS satellite signal reception. Mobile usage is at the user's cost. Lexus Australia reserves the right to add, remove or modify applications. Compatibility with smartphones will vary according to model and operating system. Further information (including smartphone compatibility) is provided at www.lexus.com.au/enform.3 Suna™ GPS Traffic Updates are only available in metropolitan Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney; it operates from information provided by Intelematics Australia and may not cover all road incidents and congestion. See sunatraffic.com.au for details.4 Manufacturer's list prices are provided for media purposes only and does not include statutory charges or other on-road costs.5 Digital radio station coverage dependent on vehicle location.6 Achieved in test conditions. Actual fuel consumption and emissions may vary depending on driving conditions/style, vehicle condition and options/accessories fitted. Fuel consumption data provided for comparison purposes only. Source: ADR 81/02 combined (L/100km).